Sound reproducing apparatus



Dec. 9, 1941. s. s. SEMPRE SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jamue/ J Jam ore BY I MJIAAWE,WQJTJW ATTO R N EYS Dec. 9, 1941. s. s. SEMPRE SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed Feb. 11, 1939 INVENTOR Jamue/ 5 Jew ore BY I V a ATTORNEY);

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOUND REPRODUQING APPARATUS 7 Samuel S. Sempre, Bronx, N. Y. Application February 11, 1939, Serial No. 255,801 3 Claims. (01. 274-14) This invention relates to sound reproducing devices and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art. A specific form of the invention has been developed as a toy novelty in the semblance of a common type of telephone stand and the invention will be described in connection with this embodiment, though with the understanding that the invention may be embodied in commercially useful forms as well as toys and also that it may be embodied in forms which depart in various ways from the one which has been selected for illustration herein.

According to this invention a sound reproducing device is arranged to be set into operation for rendering a selection from a record whenever an ear phone or receiver is removed from its holder. Moreover, mechanism is provided for insuring that the selection will be reproduced from the beginning each time the receiver or ear phone is taken up. This may be accomplished by automatically moving the needle of the microphone or the sound pick-up box to a zero or predetermined starting position when the receiver is replaced on its holder.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the selected embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view with the receiver on its holder;

Fig, 2 is a similar view with the cover raised and the receiver removed from its holder;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the cover raised;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the needle and microphone in starting position relative to the record;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the receiver holder shown in Fig. 1; and I Fig. 6 is a vertical elevational view, partly in section, on the line 6-45 of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a casing l including the base we and the cover lb. The cover is secured to the base by a hinge II, and also when closed, by a lock 12. -A'turntable l3, driven by any suitable means disposed within a box [4, is secured in the base Illa. The driving means may consist of a spring motor or an electrical motor, depending upon the anticipated facilities available and the price for which the set is to be sold. In the drawings a disc record I is shown on the turntable in position for playing.

The cover l0b carries a sound pick-up box 18, having a needle l9, the box being secured to a swingable arm hinged upon a vertical axis 2|.

The box may be the usual type oi sound box or may be an electrical microphone pick-up, depending on whether pneumatic or electrical transmission is employed. In the present instance it is arranged that pneumatic transmission be used and the sound box I8 is accordingly provided with a nipple 22 for a flexible tube 23 leadthe vertical movements of the rod 3!. plate 3! acts upon the upper end of a brake-anding outward to the nipple of a tubular bushing 24 in the cover. A flexible tube 25 is connectedto the outer end of the bushing. The tube 25 may be covered by a fabric braid, ii desired, to improve its appearance and strength and to take wear. The tube 25 leads to an earpiece 26 of a receiver or hand set 21. When not in use the receiver may rest in the forks of a support 28 secured to the top of the cover 101).

Means are provided for shifting the needle and pick-up box back to the outer or starting edge of the record in an automatic manner. This may be accomplished in connection with the removal and replacement of the receiver on its support. Re-

ferring to Fig. 5 a plate 30 carried by a rod 3| is disposed between the forks of the support 28 in position to form a rest for the receiver'2'l. The rod 3| is urged upward by a spring 32 and is limited in its, upward movement by the engagement of a flange 33 on the rod coming into engagement with a shoulder in the bore which takes the rod and spring. The weight of the receiver causesthe plate 30 and rod 3| to move downward and the spring 32 causes them to move upward when the receiver is removed from its support.

The lower end 01' the rod 3| carries a conical plug 36 which on one side is flattened or provided with a flat plate 31 which acts as a cam in The cam reset lever 38 swingably mounted in a bracket 33 secured within the cover lllb. Near its lower end, the lever 38 carries a reset rod 40, provided with a bent end which extends beneath the pickup box l8. For smoother action the box [8 may be provided with a raised rib 4| to cooperate with the rod 40. The inner-end of the rod 40 is provided with a stop member 42 for limiting the inward movement of the box. The outward movement of the box may be limited by striking the inside of the cover.

When the cam plate 31 is pushed down, as by replacement of the receiver on its support, the upper end of the lever 38 is pushed outward and the lower end is pushed inward. The inward movement of the lower end of the lever raises the bent end of the rod 40 beneath the box [8 and raises the box from the record. This action also causes the free inner end of the rod 40 to be raised higher than the elbow end of this section or length of the rod, thus forming an inclined track sloping toward the outer edge of the record.

' This is clearly shown in Fig. 6. The rib 4| of the box l8 therefore rides down the rod 40 until the box strikes the inside of the cover lob. This places the needle IS in correct position to engage the starting portion of the sound track groove in the record when the needle is again lowered. It

will be lowered as soon as the receiver is raised from its support to permit the cam plate 31 to move upward and the upper endof the lever 38 to move inward, the lower end of the lever to move outward, and the rod 40 to move downward.

Means are provided for starting the turntable I3 and record l5 into rotation when the receiver is removed from its support. The meansherein replaced on its supportand the pick-up box 18 is moved on the raised and inclined rod 40 to its outer 'orstarting positionQthe brake element 46' is forced toward theside or the turntable Is to stop its rotation; and when the lower end of the lever 38 is moved outward when the receiver is removed from'its support and the rod 40 and'box l8 are lowered,"the brake will be released and the turntable and record will commence their rotation. When the upper end-of the'lever 38 is released from the cam plate 31, both the weight of the pick-up box on the rod 40 and the rota- L tional tendency of theturntable l3 combine to move thelower' end of the lever 38 outward to release the brake and lower the rod clear of the bottom of the box |s.,

, ,As previously noted, the apparatus maytake various form's, the present form being selected as one'iwhich will beattractive to children. It may be ornamented on the exterioriby pictures or designssuitable to the place. and occasion for which it. is adaptedlto be sold, whether for Christmas,- Easter, birthdays, for souvenirs oi fairs, or the.

like.. 4

J It to be noted that while theca sing is pro vided with a dial 5 :and the-hand-piece" or receiverZ] is provided with a part l whichlappears to. be a voice, transmitter, these parts'haveno functioninthe actual 1 operation of the present form of apparatus, their presence'being entirelya matter of appearanceand in the latter case of balance for the hand piece or receiver.

7 While thedevice has been considered primarily as a: toy or souvenirada tfid to be sold at a relalrlow P =.e wi zo e; u d, hat the principles of the inventionmay' be applied to' practical cohunercial uses if desired.

w I also be understood that the invention-- means for connecting said box with said receiver,

' asupport for said receiver comprising a springand the inside of said cover pressed plunger having an'inclined cam-plate on its lower end, a brake-and-reset lever hinged to said cover and having its upper end in working engagement with said cam-plate, a brakeelement on the bottom end of said lever, a re-set rod on the bottom of said lever and disposed under said box, said rod being lifted and inclined when the receiver islplaced on its support to raise said box and shift it to starting position, and said brake element also being actuated at the same time to' pressagainst the side of said turntable.

2. Apparatus as set forthin claimv 1 which further comprises a stop on the inner end of said re-set rod for limiting'the inward travel of the box, and cooperating means. between said box 7 for limiting the outward travel of the box. V

3. Sound reproducing apparatus, comprising in combination, a turntable for rotating a sound record, a sound pick-up device mounted in cooperative relationship to said-record, a receiver connected by flexible means with said device and provided with a support on said apparatus, and means for re-setting said device, at starting position on said. record and stopping the rotation of said turntable each time the receiver is replacedon its support, and for lowering the device upon the recordwhen the receiver isnext removedfrom its support, whereby toreproduce the selection on the record from the beginning each time the receiver istaken for use, said re-setting means comprising a 'movable plunger forming part of the support for said receiver, alever oper ated by said plunger, a re-set rod carried by said lever and disposed beneath said device said rod being raised and inclined to lift said device and cause it to slide back t o starting position when the receiver is placed on its support, and a-brake arm also carried by saidlever which is pressed against the side of the turntable-when there ceiver is placed on its support, said turntable and record being carried on one assembly and the other parts being carried by a separate assembly which is hinged to and removable from the first assembly, the pick-up device being swingably mounted on its assembly to move to starting position when its assembly is swungup, and the parts being associated in proper operative relationship when said assemblies are positioned together.

SAMUEL S. SEMIPRE. 

